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The bionomics of an invasive species Sitona lepidus during its establishment in New Zealand

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  14 December 2009

P.J. Gerard ,
S.L. Goldson ,
S. Hardwick ,
P.J. Addison  and
B.E. Willoughby
P.J. Gerard*
Affiliation:
AgResearch, Ruakura Research Centre, Private Bag 3123, Hamilton3240, New Zealand
S.L. Goldson
Affiliation:
AgResearch, Private Bag 4749, Christchurch8140, New Zealand
S. Hardwick
Affiliation:
AgResearch, Private Bag 4749, Christchurch8140, New Zealand
P.J. Addison
Affiliation:
AgResearch, Ruakura Research Centre, Private Bag 3123, Hamilton3240, New Zealand
B.E. Willoughby
Affiliation:
AgResearch, Ruakura Research Centre, Private Bag 3123, Hamilton3240, New Zealand
*
*Author for correspondence Fax: 64 7 838 5073 E-mail: pip.gerard@agresearch.co.nz
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Abstract

The egg, larval, pupal and adult abundance of the clover root weevil Sitona lepidus Gyllenhal (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) was monitored at three sites for the first ten years following the discovery of this exotic pest in the Waikato region of New Zealand. The species went through an initial boom and bust cycle at two sites, with populations reaching up to 1800 larvae m−2. Thereafter, winter larval populations were relatively stable, ranging between 450–750 m−2. Unlike in the Northern Hemisphere, S. lepidus was found to have two generations a year in the Waikato region of New Zealand. Pasture white clover content at the time of peak adult numbers was positively related to the subsequent peak larval populations for each generation. The factors contributing to the emergence of S. lepidus as one of the most important pasture pests in New Zealand are discussed.

Keywords

Sitona lepiduswhite cloverinvasive pestboom and bust
Type
Research Paper
Information
Bulletin of Entomological Research , Volume 100 , Issue 3 , June 2010 , pp. 339 - 346
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2009

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